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Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
The Bills rested all expected starters in their final preseason against the Panthers on Friday night. Josh Allen only played one drive in the preseason but looked great and enters the year as the top-ranked fantasy quarterback. The team is focused on generating more run-after-catch yards to encourage Allen to take easier throws when they are available. This should make him more efficient while also minimizing the number of hits he takes while trying to extend plays. Third-string quarterback Matt Barkley served as the team’s punter in the game as they released rookie Matt Araiza on Saturday in response to rape allegations that recently surfaced from his time in college.
Running Backs
Devin Singletary and Zack Moss got the night off against Carolina, which indicates both are quite safe in their respective roles. Singletary figures to be the lead back on early downs, with Moss handling the short-yardage and goal-line work. Rookie James Cook got the start but didn’t get a chance to show much on his nine snaps. Expect him to have a limited role on passing downs early in the season with a chance to earn more snaps over time. Duke Johnson Jr had an impressive preseason and looks like he can still produce if given an opportunity, but his best chance might be to get picked up elsewhere. Rookie Raheem Blackshear also played well and seems likely to land on the practice squad.
Wide Receivers
There weren’t any true standouts at receiver in the Panthers game, but the top of the depth chart appears settled. Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis figure to handle the top two roles and play nearly every snap, while Isaiah McKenzie should handle the slot receiver role with Jamison Crowder likely backing him up and working in 4-WR formations. Rookie Khalil Shakir seems likely to handle the punt return duties, which will keep him active and allow the team to mix him in on offense at times. Behind them, Jake Kumerow should have an edge over Isaiah Hodgins due to his special teams contributions. Marquez Stevenson appears likely headed for injured reserve, which means he could be activated or released once healthy.
Tight Ends
Dawson Knox remains locked in as the starter and a top-10 fantasy option, but there are still questions about the depth chart behind him. O.J. Howard played deep into every preseason game, which is unusual for a veteran and suggests the team is not sure how well he fits into their plans. Quintin Morris and Tommy Sweeney both played 58% of the snaps against the Panthers and may force the Bills into keeping 4 tight ends on their final roster.
Defense
Von Miller didn’t play a single snap in the preseason but is expected to boost the pass rush, while the run defense should also be improved thanks to several additions at defensive tackle. The main questions for this group are in the secondary, where All-Pro cornerback TreDavious White seems likely to begin the year on the PUP list and sit out the first four games. That will create an opening in the starting lineup, and we may see rookies Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford share time until one emerges. Also, safety Jordan Poyer returned to practice on Sunday and appears on track to play in Week 1 pending his attempts to negotiate a new contract.
Returners
The Bills have been auditioning players to take special teams responsibilities from long-time return specialist Isaiah McKenzie. Marquez Stevenson was an early front-runner until foot surgery sidelined him indefinitely. Stevenson will likely begin the season on short-term IR and could be a factor by midseason, but until then, rookie Khalil Shakir has impressed and will have a chance to cement his grip on the role before Stevenson returns.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen got the start and played one series against the Broncos on Saturday afternoon as the Bills extended their preseason winning streak to 10 games. He completed all 3 of his passes and took advantage of good protection to hook up with Gabriel Davis for a 28-yard touchdown pass. That may be the last we see of him in the preseason, but the offense looked very impressive under new coordinator Ken Dorsey. Case Keenum took over late in the first quarter and had a much better showing while getting an opportunity to play with the first-string offense. He completed 16-of-18 passes and moved the ball down the field at will to help stake the Bills to a 28-6 lead at halftime. Matt Barkley played the entire second half but mostly handed the ball off as the Bills ran out the clock with a strong ground game.
Running Backs
Devin Singletary got the start and helped set the tone with an 18-yard run on his first touch of the game. Zack Moss replaced him on the second drive of the game and ran hard on a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs. James Cook also looked impressive with 50 yards on five touches. Singletary should retain his role as the lead back here, but this has the makings of a three-way committee with Moss handling short-yardage duties and Cook rotating in during passing situations. The impressive depth at the position was made even more apparent in the second half as Duke Johnson Jr and Raheem Blackshear combined for 113 yards on 14 carries with a pair of touchdowns. The running attack looks like it could be much improved this year and better able to take advantage of defenses who focus too heavily on slowing down the passing game.
Wide Receivers
Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis seem destined to play nearly every snap when healthy, and both took advantage of a Broncos defense that started their backups. Davis brought in the only touchdown throw by Josh Allen, and Diggs ran a precise route to catch a 26-yard pass at the sideline from Case Keenum. Isaiah McKenzie had a quiet outing against the Broncos but appears likely to open the season as the team’s primarily slot receiver. Jamison Crowder may not have as much explosive potential but is a reliable veteran who will provide excellent depth. Khalil Shakir continued his impressive August as he led the team in receiving against the Broncos and served as the team’s primary punt returner. Isaiah Hodgins also put together another strong showing, possibly enough to claim to the sixth spot from special teams standout Jake Kumerow. Marquez Stevenson recently had foot surgery and could be headed for injured reserve, while Tavon Austin seems unlikely to make the roster.
Tight Ends
Dawson Knox missed the Broncos game to be with his family after the sudden and unexpected death of his brother Luke, a college linebacker. It was interesting that Quintin Morris started the game and played five of the six snaps with Josh Allen while O.J. Howard remained on the sidelines. Howard hauled in a touchdown from Case Keenum at the end of the first half and wound up playing more snaps than any other tight end in the game. Despite his nearly $3 million cap hit, he hasn't impressed, so the team may be hoping they can trade him to make room for a younger and more inexpensive player like Quintin Morris.
Defense
The Bills sat out Von Miller but started most of their first-string defense against the Broncos' backups. Overall, the group played well and gave up just a pair of field goals and 90 yards combined in the first half. The main storyline for this group in camp has been at cornerback with rookies Kaiir Elam and Christan Benford again seeing extensive playing time in the first half. Dane Jackson appears set to handle one of the starting jobs as the Bills try to determine a replacement for TreDavious White, who may not be ready in time for the season opener. We also received some clarity at defensive end with A.J. Epenesa starting in place of Miller and playing alongside Greg Rousseau, with Carlos Basham and Shaq Lawson playing into the second half. At safety, Jordan Poyer remains out with an elbow injury but appears on track to play in the opener, while Micah Hyde also sat out the Broncos game as a precaution.
Offensive Line
As camp opened, there was an early round of minor injuries along the Bills' offensive line. Right tackle Spencer Brown and right guard Ryan Bates missed time with undisclosed injuries, and left guard Rodger Saffold hurt his rib in a car accident. The line was shorthanded early, with Greg Mancz and Ike Boettiger rehabbing. But the good news is that the starters are back at practice. Should they stay healthy, this line has elite potential.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
The Bills opened their preseason schedule on Saturday afternoon at home against the Colts. Josh Allen and the starters were rested, so Case Keenum got the start at quarterback and played the entire first half. He struggled to find consistency and turned the ball over twice against a Colts defense who played most of their starters into the second quarter. While the first interception came on a tipped pass by the receiver, the second was a poor decision that was intercepted near the goal line. Matt Barkley played the second half and rallied the team with two late touchdown drives and a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Running Backs
Devin Singletary was rested against the Colts, so Zack Moss got the start at running back and looked great while picking up 37 yards on three carries, including a 27-yard run. He has impressed early in camp and should hold onto a role as a short yardage back, with a chance for even more long-term since Singletary is entering the last year of his contract. James Cook split time with him but was far less successful and finished with just five yards on three carries and a five-yard reception. Duke Johnson Jr didn’t impress during his offensive snaps, but undrafted rookie Raheem Blackshear made a case for himself with two late touchdowns on the ground and 60 yards receiving to cap off the fourth-quarter comeback.
Wide Receivers
Two of the biggest standouts at camp thus far have been Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie. While much is expected of Davis, it may be time to start getting excited about the possibilities for McKenzie. He’s clearly pulling away from Jamison Crowder in the race to be the primary slot receiver and offers more explosive potential than Cole Beasley. With the top three receivers all rested against Indianapolis, rookie Khalil Shakir showed what observers have seen from him nearly every day in camp. He caught all 5 of his targets for 92 yards and could open the year as the primary backup outside. Isaiah Hodgins did not start but stood out with eight catches in the second half and could force his way onto an active roster with more performances like this.
Tight Ends
With Dawson Knox resting against the Colts, O.J. Howard had an opportunity to showcase himself but was a non-factor in the game with no catches on one target. Tommy Sweeney wasn’t any better, although he seems safe to reclaim his spot as the third-string tight end. This position may not be a focal point of the team, but Knox remains a viable top-10 tight end due to his touchdown potential in this offense.
Defense
Despite playing with their backups, the Bills defense played well and limited the Colts' first-string offense to three points on four drives. The defense also got them a lead with a strip-sack by Carlos Basham that was picked up and returned 69 yards for a touchdown. One of the main stories from camp thus far has been the competition at cornerback while waiting to learn more about TreDavious White’s recovery from his ACL injury. Rookies Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford both started and made several good plays in their debut, but more work is needed to get either ready for a potential starting job in week 1. At safety, Jordan Poyer remains out with an elbow injury but is expected to be ready for the season, while Jaquan Johnson filled in for him and came up with the team’s only interception against the Colts.
Returners
Isaiah McKenzie has been a long-time returner for the Bills, but reports from camp have been glowing and he seems likely to earn a much larger role on offense. Head coach Sean McDermott hates using offensive or defensive starters on special teams, which left Marquez Stephenson as the leader in the clubhouse for the return job, but Stephenson suffered a foot injury that will sideline him for most of August. If Stephenson's injury lingers, it opens the door for Tavon Austin to potentially earn a spot on the Bills' final roster; Austin is 32 and hasn't played much on special teams in recent seasons, but with over 200 combined returns in his career, he's one of the more experienced options in the NFL.
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
The Bills opened camp in late July as a Super Bowl favorite, led by an MVP candidate in Josh Allen. The main thing to watch is how the team will do with a new play-caller in Ken Dorsey, who replaces Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator. The team had a night practice in front of 35,000 fans on Friday night, and the passing offense dominated as all three quarterbacks combined for 499 yards on a 74% completion percentage. Case Keenum was acquired to provide experienced depth behind Allen, and Matt Barkley returned to serve as the No. 3 quarterback.
Running Backs
The offense took off late last year once Devin Singletary emerged as the clear lead back, so the assumption is that he will continue in that role. The team drafted James Cook to help in passing situations and to provide a more explosive look out of the backfield, and Zack Moss will also try to bounce back from a disappointing season to earn work as a short-yardage back. The running game struggled in the Friday night scrimmage, but there is optimism that new offensive line coach Aaron Kromer will help the running game become more efficient.
Wide Receivers
Stefon Diggs was rewarded with a large contract extension that will likely keep him in Buffalo for the remainder of his career. The emergence of Gabriel Davis at the other receiver position makes it more difficult for teams to double-team Diggs. Davis is a popular breakout candidate this year and showed why on Friday night when he hauled in 5 of 6 targets from Allen for 76 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In the battle to replace Cole Beasley as the primary slot receiver, Isaiah McKenzie is an early standout in camp, gaining an edge over Jamison Crowder, who missed time with an injury. Rookie Khalil Shakir is also drawing praise and appears to have a bright future ahead of him.
Tight Ends
Dawson Knox finally put things together last year and broke out with nine touchdowns to set a team record for the position. He’s looking to build on that as he enters the final year of his contract since the team will have some difficult decisions to make next offseason to remain under the cap. O.J. Howard was brought in after spending his entire career in Tampa Bay and will add versatility to an offense that ran the fewest 2-TE sets in the league last year.
Defense
Adding Von Miller on defense will draw most of the attention here, but there are other storylines to watch. The interior of the defensive line was rebuilt with the additions of DaQuan Jones and Tim Settle. At the same time, Ed Oliver is a potential breakout candidate entering the last year of his contract. Apart from Miller, the Bills need bigger contributions from their young edge rushers in Gregory Rousseau, Carlos Basham Jr., and A.J. Epenesa. The linebacker group is stable, but there is competition between rookie Terrel Bernard and Tyrel Dodson to handle the No. 3 linebacker role. In the secondary, All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer showed up for camp while negotiating a new contract but suffered an elbow injury that should keep him out for several weeks. Cornerback Kaiir Elam was drafted in the first round to fill a big need, but he’s off to a rough start in camp and could be passed by sixth-round pick Christian Benford, who has been a pleasant surprise.
